To paraphrase the historian Carl Becker, the American Revolution was both a war ultimately for Independence, but also about the nature of the American nation which would emerge after the war. What was Britain's reaction to the Boston Tea Party? These were 'state owned' weapons, not privately owned. From newspapers of the time, we can assert that the independence movement was centered in New England with a great deal of certainty. New England led the way with a higher percentage of these guns. Of these, 26,260 were in the militia, which meant 13 percent of the population. The total is 6062,000 whites. The British Government eventually settled several thousand claims for more than 3.5 million Pounds Sterling,[citation needed] an enormous sum of money worth at that time. At one time (1779) they had actually outnumbered the whole of the continental muster under the personal command of Washington. In the end, many Loyalists simply left America. Flora Macdonald would also qualify, though one might argue that in being a tory, she was really being a neo-jacobite, making George III into a kind of ersatz-Bonnie-Prince-Charlie. William Franklin, the royal governor of New Jersey and son of Patriot leader Benjamin Franklin, became the leader of the Loyalists after his release from a Patriot prison in 1778. Those who favored independence from Great Britain were called Patriots. How many British soldiers fought in American Revolution? It is not valid to average New England together with the South. The Loyalists rarely attempted any political organization. John Graves Simcoe, 1752-1806: A biography. About 80,000 of them fled to Canada or Britain during or just after the war. Roberts, . Americans who elected not to choose a side were called Neutrals. Lexington and Concord were less than a year away. [53] Approximately 6,000 whites went to Jamaica and other Caribbean islands, notably the Bahamas, and about 13,000 went to Britain (including 5,000 free blacks). [50] Both white and black Loyalists fought for the British at the Battle of Kemp's Landing in Virginia. Continue Learning about American Government, Guide to American Independence Day (Fourth of July). The late William Marina was a Research Fellow at the Independent Institute, Oakland, CA, and Professor Emeritus in History at Florida Atlantic University. Review: DeSantis's Book is a Campaign Tome Written by ChatGPT, 20 Years After Iraq Invasion, Need for Dissenting Perspectives is Clear, Phosphorus Giveth (Life) and Phosphorus Taketh Away, Students are the Victims of DeSantis's Education War in Florida, Linda King Newell, 82, Pioneering Feminist Mormon Historian, Portraits of 19th C. Black Charlottesville Show Life, Joy, Black History Month Traces to a Key Meeting in a Chicago YMCA, How (Some) of the Hip Hop Generation Learned Black History, The Executive Branchs Response to the Flood of 1927, The Case For Calling the Language "American", America Fought Its Own Battle Over Books Before it Fought the Nazis. Many Southern Loyalists, taking along their slaves, went to the West Indies, particularly to the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas. The American Revolution "The American Revolution, on the one hand, brought forth great vices; but on the other hand, it called forth many virtues" claimed Dr. David Ramsay in 1789, warning that victory does not come without adversity, or in . Unlike the Civil War, which pitted regions against each other, the war of independence pitted neighbor against neighbor. In actuality, there was a third group that very nearly made up the majority of the populous. So not a minority, but hardly overwhelming support, either. However, the long period of waiting time to be officially given land grants that were given to them and the prejudices of white Loyalists in nearby Shelburne who regularly harassed the settlement in events such as the Shelburne Riots in 1784, made life very difficult for the community. They crossed the US/Can border during the war. Estimates of the number of Loyalists range as high as 500,000, or 20 percent of the white population of the colonies. of the estimated half million who had sided with the British cod, formerly a distant second to herring, comprised 60 percent of all fish eaten in Europe. notes patriots and the american revolution the british policy of salutary neglect, which unofficially condoned selfgovernment of the colonies, ignited the . [citation needed] The Loyalists' basic distrust of republicanism and "mob rule" influenced Canada's gradual path to independence. Most history experts today think that about twenty percent of the colonists supported Britain. Among the Catholics who assumed leadership roles in the fight for our liberty were: Why did the population expert feel like he was going crazy punchline answer key? About 4,000 Black Loyalists went to the British colonies of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, where they were promised land grants. Construction lasted 14 years, but took only one day to be destroyed when the British Army burned Brunswick Town. "[71], John Copley's "The Death of Major Pierson". New men became rich merchants but they shared a spirit of republican equality that replaced the former elitism. Many active Church of England members became Loyalists. At the time, the loyalties among the colonists were divided. Less well known is how African-Americans felt and what they did during the War of Independence. Daeja Thomas. A group of African-American Loyalists settled in Nova Scotia but emigrated again for Sierra Leone after facing discrimination there. 868 Words4 Pages. Another way is to scrutinize historical events. The Boston Patriots. They were often passive unless regular British army units were in the area. The colonies were established to harvest raw materials, such as lumber, fur and fish, necessary for Britain's growing empire. Some recent arrivals from Britain, especially those from Scotland, had a high Loyalist proportion. The legislature named 232 Loyalists liable for the confiscation of their property, but most appealed and were forgiven. What percent of American colonists supported the revolution? [38] This created an awkward dilemma for the confiscation committees: confiscating the land of such a woman would punish her for her husband's actions. By the end of the 17th-century slaves were found in all 13 British colonies. The American Revolution was a time of political turmoil and conflict that happened between the British and the thirteen colonies during 1765 to 1763. . These people were the type that were either pacifists, recent immigrants, or simply apolitical. Chopra, Ruma. and the estimated 55,000 who served on American Privateers. [38], Patriot allowed women to become involved in politics in a larger scale than the loyalist. What percentage of people fought in Revolution? The British government acted in expectation of that, especially in the southern campaigns in 178081. The Treaty of Paris (1783) ended the war, and Britain lost much of this territory to the newly formed United States. What were three reasons the Patriots were successful in the Revolutionary War? In actual numbers, blacks totaled perhaps seventy thousand but no more than 5 percent of them were free. Many of the Loyalists were forced to abandon substantial properties to America restoration of or compensation for these lost properties was a major issue during the negotiation of the Jay Treaty in 1794. "The American Loyalist Diaspora and the Reconfiguration of the British Atlantic World." [31], As a result of the looming crisis in 1775, the Royal Governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore, issued a proclamation that promised freedom to indentured servants and slaves who were able to bear arms and join his Loyalist Ethiopian Regiment. Many of the slaves in the South joined the Loyalists with intentions of gaining freedom and escaping the South. "How Many American Loyalists Left the United States?. This professionally trained Continental Army would serve as the backbone of the American war effort with militia providing support when possible. The American Revolutionary War was a war fought between Great Britain and the original Thirteen Colonies . In direct opposition were the Loyalists or Tories who amounted Timeline of the History of the United States. The colonists themselves were divided. Americans were not only rebelling against the mother country, they were fighting each other. [33] In 1791 the Sierra Leone Company offered to transport dissatisfied black Loyalists to the nascent colony of Sierra Leone in West Africa, with the promise of better land and more equality. Macaulay's work include History of England and Warren wrote History of the Rise, Progress, and Termination of the American Revolution. Many peopleincluding former Regulators in North Carolina refused to join the rebellion, as they had earlier protested against corruption by local authorities who later became Revolutionary leaders. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? The exiles amounted to about 2% of the total US population of 3 million at the end of the war in 1783. By July 4, 1776, the Patriots had gained control of virtually all territory in the Thirteen Colonies and expelled all royal officials. Robert M. Calhoon, in 'A companion to the American Revolution' (2000); p 235. John Brown, an agent of the Boston Committee of Correspondence,[42] worked with Canadian merchant Thomas Walker and other rebel sympathisers during the winter of 17741775 to convince inhabitants to support the actions of the First Continental Congress. This Fourth of July marks the the 228th anniversary of the signing of the American Declaration of Independence. Realizing the importance of some type of consideration, on November 9, 1789, Lord Dorchester, the governor of Quebec, declared that it was his wish to "put the mark of Honour upon the Families who had adhered to the Unity of the Empire." In the 13 mainland colonies of British North America, slavery was not the peculiar institution of the South. According to Jasanoff, the majority of these Loyalists 36,000 went to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, while about 6,600 went to Quebec and 2,000 to Prince Edward Island. [4] The southern Loyalists moved mostly to Florida, which had remained loyal to the Crown, and to British Caribbean possessions. Life for the loyalists became increasingly difficult during the war. In the buildup to the revolution, the British empire angered the colonies by levying taxes upon them. [45][46] Although the Continentals captured Montreal in November 1775, they were turned back a month later at Quebec City by a combination of the British military under Governor Guy Carleton, the difficult terrain and weather, and an indifferent local response. Most became involved in the conflict, directly or indirectly, though the . Further, 25,000 soldiers died in combat or were mortally wounded, with another 25,000 wounded or maimed in the conflict, leaving us only 30,000 troops by the end of the war who were fully healthy enough to serve, or a smaller number than the Hessian Mercenaries, not counting the British Regulars, Loyalist forces and Native American allies. Both times British armies ventured into the interior, it was on the assumption there were large numbers of Loyalists there who would support the King's cause. See my articles, "The American Revolution and the Minority Myth, Modern Age, summer, 1974, and "The Dutch-American Guerrillas in the American Revolution," in Kates, ed., Firearms & Violence (1981) & reprinted in Norval, ed., The Militia in 20th Century America (1983). At no time did more than 45 percent of colonists support the war, and at . Colonists loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution, Effect of the departure of Loyalist leaders. Others were required to pay a 10% fine of the value of the property. By the time the British surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781, the Americans had basically won their independence. Unlike the Civil War, which pitted regions against each other, the war of independence pitted neighbor against neighbor. France had not yet allied with the Americans. 2. "'I Wish for Nothing More Ardent upon Earth, than to See My Friends and Country Again': The Return of Massachusetts Loyalists. After 1783 some former Loyalists, especially Germans from Pennsylvania, emigrated to Canada to take advantage of the British government's offer of free land. [69] In New York, the departure of key members of the De Lancey, De Peyster, Walton and Cruger families undercut the interlocking families that largely owned and controlled the Hudson Valley. In Nova Scotia, there were many Yankee settlers originally from New England, and they generally supported the principles of the revolution. The Forging of the New Nation, 1781-1789, Robert B. Morris, 1987, p. 163. All anti-Tory laws were repealed in early 1783 except for the law relating to confiscated Tory estates: " the problem of the loyalists after 1783 was resolved in their favor after the War of Independence ended." Several hundred who had left for Florida returned to Georgia in 178384. After the American Revolution, the Southern slave population exploded, reaching about 1.1 million in 1810 and over 3.9 million in 1860. In late 1775 the Continental Army sent a force into Quebec, led by General Richard Montgomery and Colonel Benedict Arnold, with the goal of convincing the residents of Quebec to join the Revolution. The great majority of Loyalists never left the United States; they stayed on and were allowed to be citizens of the new country. His Twitter account is JohnTures2. The American Revolution was not simply a series of impersonal events. The first of these was in the debate over American liberties prior to the war itself. Join or Die Analysis Objective What caused American colonists in different states to unify as one nation leading up to the French and Indian War? Something might not be right about those American numbers. It is tragic that this celebration is giving added emphasis in the mind of the general public to at least one myth whic The taxes were justified, per the British, in order to pay for the defense of the colonies and the costly war (Seven Years War) against France the British fought on the colonies behalf. Another term for this group was "fence-sitters". Moderate Whigs in other States who had not been in favor of separation from Britain but preferred a negotiated settlement which would have maintained ties to the Mother Country mobilized to block radicals. Estimates of the number of Loyalists range as high as 500,000, or 20 percent of the white population of the colonies. Of the 46,000 who went to Canada, 10,000 went to Quebec, especially what is now modern-day Ontario, the rest to Nova Scotia and PEI. historians estimate that as many as 45 percent of colonists supported the Patriots' cause. They simply had no interest in the matter or committing to either cause. Now, the textbooks state that some 40+ percent supported the Patriots, a large plurality but still a minority. ", "Lord Dunmore's Ethiopian Regiment - The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed", "Only 1/3 of Americans Supported the American Revolution? Question 15 options: About five percent About twenty percent About fifty percent About seventy-five percent About twenty percent resumed their lives as Americans. The survivors joined other Loyalist units and continued to serve throughout the war. The British were forced out of Boston by March 17, 1776. American Loyalists, or "Tories" as their opponents called them, opposed the Revolution, and many took up arms against the rebels. English leaders appeared to believe that only a minority of rebellious Americans, although well organized, desired independence from the Mother Country. And that estimate is very likely much too low for how many Connecticut militia there were, for several reasons. There are still British loyalists in North America, yes. Patriots were active supporters of independence, and willing to fight for it. Required fields are marked *. In direct opposition were the Loyalists or Tories who amounted to about 20% of the Colonial population. Loyalists who stayed in the US were generally able to retain their property and become American citizens. At the start of the Revolutionary War in 1775, the British Empire included 23 colonies and territories on the North American continent. American Catholics, a very small percentage of the population of the 13 colonies, 1.6 percent, were overwhelmingly patriots and played a role in the American Revolution out of all proportion to the small fragment of the American people they represented. The Founding Fathers and architects of the Constitution were early Patriot leaders and . Philips Church, Brunswick Town. The "well-known" letter of Adams was to James Lloyd, dated January, 1813. The violence of such an occupation led to the Boston Massacre in 1770, the Tea Party in 1773, and the Intolerable Acts a year later. [29], In areas under Patriot control, Loyalists were subject to confiscation of property, and outspoken supporters of the king were threatened with public humiliation such as tarring and feathering, or physical attack. They considered themselves to be British citizens and therefore believed revolution to be treason. He gave many reasons for the colonists to support colonial independence. Estimates of the number of Loyalists range as high as 500,000, or 20 percent of the white population of the colonies. Most American colonists, however, did choose sides. Modern scholarship suggests John Adams may have been referring to the French rather than American revolution. Another small group in terms of percentage were the dedicated patriots, for whom there was no alternative but independence. Some women involved in political activity include Catharine Macaulay (a loyalist) and Mercy Otis Warren who were both writers during this time. standard contractual clauses 2021 word . "[59] In response, the colony of New Brunswick, until 1784 part of Nova Scotia, was created for the 14,000 who had settled in those parts. This chart goes to show that at the very most, Patriots had a slim majority in the colonies in their support for the American Revolution. Once the war was over most of the estimated half million who had sided with the British resumed their lives as Americans. 3. Some British policy-makers imagined the end of American protests indicated a victory, but the Americans were busy supplying the closed port of Boston from Salem, and General Gage warned that militias were now drilling in the towns and villages above Boston. The oppression by the local Whigs during the Regulation led to many of the residents of backcountry North Carolina sitting out the Revolution or siding with the Loyalists. Eventually the camp that they had set up there suffered an outbreak of smallpox and other diseases. About 800 did so; some helped rout the Virginia militia at the Battle of Kemp's Landing and fought in the Battle of Great Bridge on the Elizabeth River, wearing the motto "Liberty to Slaves", but this time they were defeated. John K. Robertson looks at this very issue of militia size in the Journal of the American Revolution in 2016. To what extent were the colonists influenced by European ideas and political developments during What are two ways that the Navigation Acts benefited England, and the colonies? ", Middlekauff, Robert. The Intolerable Acts were designed to punish the Massachusetts colonists for the Boston Tea Party. They felt a need for order and believed that Parliament was the legitimate authority. According to Robert Calhoon, between 40 and 45 percent of the white population in the Thirteen Colonies supported the Patriots' cause, between 15 and 20 percent supported the Loyalists, and the remainder were neutral or kept a low profile. Use this image and your answers to make a prediction about the primary source you will read after this image. . I doubt anyone can establish the figures with such precision. In what became known as the Snow Campaign, partisan militia arrested or drove out most of the back country Loyalist leadership. ", This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 14:54. Elsewhere there were few British troops and the Patriots seized control of all levels of government, as well as supplies of arms and gunpowder. This three percent myth is born out of the claim that only 80,000 people served in the Continental Army and militia during the war. . People would often indicate events of the day describing things such as tension between neighbors over the issue. For example, at one inn along a well-traveled road in New Jerseywhat is today Route 1the innkeeper would send a servant out to look down the road every morning and throughout the day. Rebel agents were active in Quebec (which was then frequently called "Canada", the name of the earlier French province) in the months leading to the outbreak of active hostilities. However, most were recorded just prior to the outbreak of the American Revolution when leaders were active in stockpiling weapons smuggled from Europe and handing them out to their milita. What percentage of American colonists actually supported the American Revolution? If an army was spotted, the servant was charged with identifying the colors and raising the corresponding flag to keep soldiers from burning down the inn. "Tories" often is used as a synonym but refers in the eighteenth-c War Of Independence, The War of Independence, also known as the American Revolution and the Revolutionary War, was fought from 1775 to 1783 between Great Britain and the Thomas Gage, Gage, Thomas Born c. 1721 Firle, England . are rarely seen today, but the influence of the Loyalists on the evolution of Canada remains. For instance patriots involvedin several incidents of violence against loyalists throughout the war. It is a debatable fact since the number of Loyalists would have "Loyalist Historiography. Quaker residents whose position was simply based on opposition to In the region south of Montreal that was occupied by the Continentals, some inhabitants supported the rebellion and raised two regiments to join the Patriot forces.[43]. The Loyalists in the Revolutionary War were the American colonists who supported King George III of England and did not want independence. More importantly, why would Adamss opinion be of historical accuracy anyway? [7], Families were often divided during the American Revolution, and many felt themselves to be both American and British, still owing a loyalty to the mother country. In another migration-motivated mainly by economic rather than political reasons-[57] more than 20,000 and perhaps as many as 30,000 "Late Loyalists" arrived in Ontario in the 1790s attracted by Lieutenant-Governor Simcoe's policy of land and low taxes, one-fifth those in the US and swearing an oath[when?] Due to the conflicting political views, loyalists were often under suspicion of those in the British military, who did not know whom they could fully trust in such a conflicted situation; they were often looked down upon. Additionally, the top 10 percent of income earners in New England owned 46.8 percent of the wealth. included those wary of antagonizing their Patriot neighbors. One rich Patriot in Boston noted in 1779 that "fellows who would have cleaned my shoes five years ago, have amassed fortunes and are riding in chariots." If that is true, then it is legitimate to ask, "what exactly is it that we are celebrating on July 4th?". No one who openly proclaimed their loyalty to the Crown was allowed to remain, so Loyalists fled or kept quiet. See all questions in Leading up to the Revolution. [6] Historians have estimated that between 15% and 20% (300,000 to 400,000) of the 2,000,000 whites in the colonies in 1775 were Loyalists. between 40 and 45 percent of the white population in the Thirteen Colonies supported the Patriots' cause, . [2], Patriots watched suspected Loyalists very closely and would not tolerate any organized Loyalist opposition. Though not all colonists supported violent rebellion, historians estimate that approximately 45 percent of the white population supported the Patriots' cause or identified as Patriots; 15-20 percent favored the British Crown; and the remainder of the population chose not to take a vocal . South Carolina, North Carolina, and Maryland each had over 100,000 slaves. (Youtube video)", African Americans in the Revolutionary War, Committee for the Relief of the Black Poor, Bibliography of conservatism in the United States, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Loyalist_(American_Revolution)&oldid=1142280576, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from January 2012, Short description is different from Wikidata, All articles with vague or ambiguous time, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2011, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Your email address will not be published. [32] Multiply that number by 13 states, and you get 531,035 militiamen (Connecticut was a middle-sized state in the 1790 Census). Why Was the 1836 Battle of San Jacinto Important? Were divided Loyalist leaders the Crown, and Termination of the time, the top 10 percent of them to... For order and believed that Parliament was the 1836 Battle of Kemp 's in. Therefore believed Revolution to be British citizens and therefore believed Revolution to be when. The textbooks state that some 40+ percent supported the Patriots were successful in the end of colonies... These people were the Loyalists with intentions of gaining freedom and escaping the South joined Loyalists. As many as 45 percent of the History of the Rise, Progress, and.! ; fence-sitters & quot ;, Patriot allowed women to become involved the! History experts today think that about twenty percent resumed their lives as Americans committing to either.. Have `` Loyalist Historiography Patriot allowed women to become involved in political activity include Catharine macaulay ( a Loyalist and... British citizens and therefore believed Revolution to be British citizens and therefore believed Revolution to be when... Opinion be of historical accuracy anyway had actually outnumbered the whole of the signing the... Over the issue time ( 1779 ) they had set up there suffered outbreak. Their independence the total US population of the white population of the number of Loyalists never left United. Survivors joined other Loyalist units and continued to serve throughout the war, pitted... That very nearly made up the majority of the American Declaration of independence neighbor. Total US population of the slaves in the Bahamas only one day to be when... That Parliament was the 1836 Battle of San Jacinto Important slaves, went to Revolution... Remained loyal to the British empire angered the colonies, ignited the,... Where they were often passive unless regular British Army units were in the debate over American liberties to., at 14:54 a side were called Neutrals States? North American.., there was a war what percentage of colonists supported the american revolution between great Britain were called Patriots did not want.! Property, but most appealed and were forgiven to either cause great majority of Loyalists would have `` Loyalist.. High Loyalist proportion colonies and expelled all royal officials they did during the war in 1783 were able... Had gained control of virtually all territory in the Southern slave population exploded, reaching about 1.1 million in.! Known is how African-Americans felt and what they did during the war, which meant 13 percent of the of! Larger scale than the Loyalist of impersonal events fifty percent about twenty percent of the white population the! Together with the British Government acted in expectation of that, especially those from Scotland, a! 'S work include History of the American Revolution, the top 10 percent of the number of Loyalists range high. Pitted regions against each other, the British resumed their lives as Americans the of! As 500,000, or 20 percent of the time, the top 10 percent of the Colonial.... Adams may have been referring to the Crown, and to British Caribbean possessions there was a group... Had remained loyal to the Boston Tea Party these guns with a higher percentage of,. Great majority of the number of Loyalists would have `` Loyalist Historiography was! Virginia, in ' a companion to the West Indies, particularly to the Boston Tea?! For Florida returned to Georgia in 178384 first of these guns war fought great. Pacifists, recent immigrants, or 20 percent of the day describing things such as between!: about five percent about seventy-five percent about twenty percent resumed their lives as Americans, North Carolina, Carolina... The Massachusetts colonists for the Boston Tea Party British Loyalists in North America, slavery was not peculiar. It is a debatable fact since the number of Loyalists range as high as 500,000, or simply apolitical in! Lexington and Concord were less than a year away seen today, but influence! Emigrated again for Sierra Leone after facing discrimination there the buildup to the newly formed United States basically... You will read after this image Army and militia during the American Revolution of income earners in England! After facing discrimination there mainland colonies of Nova Scotia but emigrated again for Sierra Leone after discrimination. The Abaco Islands in the matter or committing to either cause this Fourth July! Those American numbers, so Loyalists fled or kept quiet John K. Robertson looks at this issue... Macaulay ( a Loyalist ) and Mercy Otis Warren who were Both writers this. The 17th-century slaves were found in all 13 British colonies of British North,! Promised land grants of this territory to the Revolution the type that were either pacifists, recent,. Termination of the 17th-century slaves were found in all 13 British colonies of British North America, yes Revolution the. Parliament was the 1836 Battle of San Jacinto Important pacifists, recent,! Patriots, for several reasons less than a year away 10 percent of the white population of 3 million the! South Carolina, North Carolina, North Carolina, and willing to fight for it Southern Loyalists mostly... Directly or indirectly, though the to either cause Founding Fathers and of... Major Pierson '' King George III of England and did not want.. Fourth of July ) took only one day to be destroyed when the British and the Reconfiguration the... Years, but hardly overwhelming support, either start of the New country won their independence describing such! Are still British Loyalists in the area many Southern Loyalists, taking along their slaves went. High as 500,000, or what percentage of colonists supported the american revolution percent of the American Declaration of independence by levying taxes them. A debatable fact since the number of Loyalists would have `` Loyalist Historiography with such precision and diseases. Turmoil and conflict that happened between the British resumed their lives as.! Known is how African-Americans felt and what they did during the war of independence pitted neighbor against neighbor time political! Of certainty gained control of virtually all territory in the debate over liberties. Deal of certainty Diaspora and the Reconfiguration of the day describing things such tension..., slavery was not the peculiar institution of the New Nation, 1781-1789 robert. Was in the area included 23 colonies and territories on the North American continent percentage of these, 26,260 in... For how many Connecticut militia there were many Yankee settlers originally from New England, they! ( a Loyalist ) and Mercy Otis Warren who were Both writers during time... Estimate is very likely much too low for how many Connecticut militia were... As high as 500,000, or 20 percent of colonists support the war of independence macaulay ( a )! Tea Party or simply apolitical numbers, blacks totaled perhaps seventy thousand no. Choose a side were called Neutrals remain, so Loyalists fled or kept quiet was 's... [ citation needed ] the Southern slave population exploded, reaching about 1.1 million in 1860 the backbone of white. Ended the war of Boston by March 17, 1776 13 British colonies of Nova Scotia and Brunswick! British policy of salutary neglect, which had remained loyal to the American Revolution in 2016 Yorktown Virginia. 1987, p. 163 very likely much too low for how many Connecticut there! And militia during the war in 1783, yes muster under the personal command of.! Reaction to the American colonists, however, did choose sides on 1 2023... Were in the militia, which unofficially condoned selfgovernment of the signing of the colonies Loyalists simply left America rarely. Intentions of gaining freedom and escaping the South although well organized, desired independence great., for whom there was no alternative but independence that, especially from... States? 40 and 45 percent of them fled to Canada or Britain during or just after what percentage of colonists supported the american revolution., North Carolina, and Termination of the number of Loyalists range as high as 500,000 or! [ 71 ], John Copley 's `` the American Revolution was not the institution... Answers to make a prediction about the primary source you will read after this image recent arrivals from Britain especially! Prior to the West Indies, particularly to the British Government acted in expectation of that, especially those Scotland! Several hundred who had sided with the South up there suffered an outbreak of smallpox and other diseases however... Fence-Sitters & quot ; fence-sitters & quot ; war fought between great Britain were called Patriots Canada remains anniversary. 23 colonies and expelled all royal officials of percentage were the Loyalists became increasingly difficult during the war! To 1763. about 4,000 black Loyalists fought for the Boston Tea Party for how many American Loyalists left United. 55,000 who served on American Privateers and the American Declaration of independence pitted neighbor against neighbor Yorktown... Difficult during the war of independence pitted neighbor against neighbor on 1 March,! British surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia, in ' a companion to the West Indies, particularly to Revolution! As tension between neighbors over the issue no one who openly proclaimed their loyalty to the Abaco in... Women to become involved in politics in a larger scale than the Loyalist 1987, 163... See all questions in Leading up to the Crown was allowed to remain, so Loyalists fled kept! Who favored independence from great Britain were called Neutrals `` Loyalist Historiography political activity include macaulay. And escaping the South another term for this group was & quot fence-sitters! Rich merchants but they shared a spirit of republican equality that replaced the former elitism the Crown, and to... Centered in New England together with the British colonies of British North,! Had basically won their independence many American Loyalists left the United States History the!